Visual narratives in bold strokes

The illustrations in the memoir were done by Clem’s brother, Oliver. There were sketches, doodles, comic strips and portraits illustrated between pages. Most of them were done in black ink while a small portion was painted in watercolor, printed out in black and white. Oliver would then scribble down a line or two to explain the contents of the pictures, often adding a hint of sarcasm to his art. The drawings themselves were minimalistic yet full of personality. They captured the essence of schizophrenia with its feral pen strokes, smudged ink and edgy style. It is almost as if they were the impressions of a child, keeping a visual diary and documenting bits and pieces of everyday life, from sleepless nights to even the tiniest details no one would pay much attention. The illustrations weren’t aiming to please the eye but rather documenting an honest and heartbreaking journey of the Martinis. It lent insight to the unconventional dimensions of a schizophrenic patient, the frustrations and hopelessness they experienced, knowing that there is no cure and that they would have to fight against their fate for the rest of their lives. The illustrations also provided an overall tone to the memoir. Without the drawings, Bitter Medicine would have lost its charm and atmosphere.